The National Assembly on Thursday approved the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2025, a landmark legislation that designates the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a five-year term effective from November 27, 2025.

The post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be abolished from the same date.

According to the new law, a fresh notification will be issued appointing the COAS as the Chief of Defence Forces, upon which the tenure of the incumbent army chief will restart.

The position will have the authority to restructure and integrate all branches of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, presenting the bill, said the prime minister will appoint the Chief of Defence Forces on the recommendation of the cabinet, and the tenure will commence from the date of appointment.

“The office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will stand abolished on November 27,” he confirmed.

The legislation also creates the post of National Strategic Commander, a new high-level position responsible for the country’s strategic command structure.

The Commander of National Strategic Command will serve a three-year term, extendable for another three years at the prime minister’s discretion.

The appointment or extension of the commander will not be challengeable in court, and general retirement laws will not apply.

The federal government will define the powers of the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, as well as those of any Vice or Deputy Chiefs of Army Staff, under a unified command and control system.

The bill also includes provisions for multi-domain integration, organisational restructuring, and clarifications regarding the rank of Field Marshal.

New clauses from Sections 8D to 8G have been introduced or amended to align with the 27th Constitutional Amendment, under which the reform was initiated.

The legislation seeks to harmonise the operational and command structures of Pakistan’s Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Alongside the Army Act, the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025 were also passed by the National Assembly.

Under the Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025, amendments to the Pakistan Air Force Act 1953 remove references to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and introduce textual updates to reflect the new command system.

Sections 10D, 10E, and 10F have been omitted, and the term “Chairman Joint Chiefs” deleted from various clauses to align the law with constitutional and defence reforms.

Similarly, the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, amending the Navy Act 1961, eliminates sections referring to the Joint Chiefs post and updates terminology related to the Chief of Naval Staff.

The amendments introduce the “multi-domain integration” concept and bring the Navy’s command system in line with the new Defence Forces structure.

According to government officials, the reforms aim to create coherence across the three armed services, streamline command and decision-making, and ensure that Pakistan’s defence leadership operates under a more unified and efficient system.